So, good evening everyone. >> We're going to have some competition running the meeting tonight. I'm hearing this little baby say. So, welcome. Welcome. It is so wonderful to have a full house and to have you all here tonight. So, the October 22nd, 2025
council meeting of the Long Branch City Council will now come to order. Roll call, please. >> Mr. Rases >> here. Mr. Vieiraa, >> I'm here. >> Mrs. Whittis is absent. Mr. Dangler is absent. Dr. Vote >> here. >> Uh, please all stand for the pledge of allegiance.
>> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. I will now read the mission statement
for the city council. The Long Ranch mayor, city council, and administration are committed to cultivating an environment of mutual trust and respect that values the diversity of our community. We will strive to enhance the
quality of life for all who live here by making Long Branch a desirable place in which to live and prosper. We will treat all members of the public with respect and expect the same in return. Certification, please. >> I hereby certify that this meeting has
been published in the newspaper in accordance with the Open Public Meeting Act and posted as required by law. >> Okay. Thank you. So, we have two presentations tonight. And the first one is going to be the Italian-American Heritage Month presentation by our Long
Branch Public Schools. And who is going to be stepping up for that? Good. Welcome. And tell us your name when you get up there. There you go. >> Hi, my name's Francesca. >> And uh just hold that. Can you get that
microphone a little bit closer? Okay. Good evening. My name is Francesca Michello. I'm an eighth grader at the Long Branch Middle School. I would like to thank Mayor Palone and the Long Branch City Council for giving me the opportunity to speak about what Italian
heritage means to me. For me, Italian For me being Italian is about family, being full of passion, and of course having a love um of food. First, being Italian, being from an Italian family means that family is at the center of all that we do. We spend time together
celebrating family traditions year after year and having big family celebrations on holidays like Christmas and Easter. We are always there to support each other at our sports competitions, school events, and other life milestones. But mostly being in an Italian family is
about our strong family connection, family pride, and love for each other. That is a common train in any Italian home. Next, being Italian means being full of passion. Italians are not shy to express their emotions and certainly put their heart and soul into everything they do. This passion is also part of
our relationships with our family and friends. Although we may have our family debates at times, the conversations all serve as a way to express our strong convictions while at the same time respecting the family core values. Finally, being Italian means having a love for food. It is not just about the
delicious Italian recipes served when we eat together, but the family meals are a true event. Whether it's our traditional Sunday dinners or spending holidays together, these meals bring our family together to create lasting memories. Thank you for allowing me the chance to share my thoughts on what it means to be
part of a proud Italian family. >> That was beautiful. >> Beautiful. Thank you. Thank you. >> Excellent job and wonderful heartfelt message for all of us. Nice job. Um and now uh we will have
a another award and I think our business administrator will be stepping up to uh lead us through this award >> and our mayor Hello everyone. For anyone that doesn't know, my name is Charles Shirley. I'm the business administrator for the city
and I'm currently the acting director of public safety. Um, Chief Griffin's going to lead you through the ceremony, but a part of this I didn't want to be left out is is that uh, everyone that lives here, you have to remember that we have a 300 plus lifeguard uh, force that defends our oceans and people that go in
it. Um, every single summer, the gap that no one knows about is when local summer happens, this is who we have. Our fire department is called from however far along that there's a a a swimmer in the ocean and he's drowning and figure it out, right? And so this is why when
you're listening to what happened here, you need to understand there were no lifeguards on duty. There were no people there. So if it weren't for um civilians that that acted and then the fire department that responded, uh the lifeguards aren't on duty. So this what happened here was a little bit more than what it sounds like initially. So just
keep that in mind. Time of year that happened. So with that, Chief Griffin hold them for you. Yep. Yep. Good evening. Thank you, Mayor Palone. Thank you, Administrator Sherley
Council. On September 18th, 2025, fire department was dispatched to the Cottage Avenue Beach for reported of multiple swimmers in distress. Upon arrival, firefighters Chaffy,
Nicholas, and firefighter Douglas Safiotti entered the rough surf to initiate a rescue. Firefighters Chaffy with the assistance of firefighters Christopher Fazio successfully removed one victim from the surf while firefighter Safiotti swam out
to a second victim. After reaching and providing a flotation device, the victim and firefighter Safiotti became separated due to the rough surf and both became caught in a rip current and were unable to get back
without assistance. Firefighters Fazio and Captain Timothy Griffin entered the water to assist both rescuer and the second victim. Firefighter Sa Fazio swam to the firefighter Safiotti with a tethered rescue line which allowed firefighter
Banic on shore to pull the members safely back to land. Once the firefighters were secured, Captain Griffin ensured their safety and then assisted the second victim from the water. As a result of this rescue operation,
firefighter Safiotti was transported to Mammoth Medical Center and eventually admitted for observation. The efforts by these men exemplify the energy, expertise, selflessness, and the within the highest traditions of the fire service. For actions performed,
these men will be awarded the following. Medal of Honor, Valor, First Class, firefighters Doug Safiotti, number 183, and firefighter Nick Chaffy, number 182.
[Applause] Medal of Hour. Valor, class two, Captain Tim Griffin, firefighter Christopher Fazio.
Honorable service ribbon. Second class merit firefighter Kenneth Banick number 174. Do that first. We all have certificates as well. City of Long Branch uh certificate of recognition. The certificate is
presented to all say the same. >> Yeah, except for the the certificate itself. >> All right. uh for receiving the Medal of Honor recognition for your heroic act on September 18th, 2025 when you risked your life to save swimmers in distress.
You preserved under extremely hazardous conditions and nominally faced imminent personal risk. Your actions are the highest example of the values of the Long Branch Fire Department holds. The mayor and council and the city of Long Branch extend congratulations for your exemplary service to our community.
Nicholas Choffy Doug, [Applause]
>> Jim Griffin, [Applause] Um, and with that, while these guys are here, I just want to call the mayor up. There is a civilian award for um someone that acted and and actually um helped
helped assist the firemen and delay um and delay and help the swimmer until the firemen arrived. So, mayor, with that, >> thank you. >> Good evening, everybody. And I um you know, I watched the video of this. I've been around the water all my life
and I had never seen the rip currents like that. I mean, it was just so strong and just amazing what all the firemen uh did. And thank you risking your life. Coincidentally, today is what is the um uh go the extra mile resolution that
we're doing today. And it's just coincidental that's out on October 23rd. And we're celebrating the um uh the the firemen and your effort as well as uh Mr. um Moy who I'm just going to mention right now. So my understanding is at the
at the top of this story um Mr. uh Moy's wife was walking on the boardwalk and noticed that there were two young men uh in distress in the water and that she immediately contacted her husband who coincidentally was jogging on the
boardwalk as well and he literally went down. This was before the firefighters arrived and went into the water. One young man had been able to get out of the water and then uh he went out to save um the other young man and
fortunately he got caught with everybody else and then the fireman came to the rescue and fortunately were were able to pull everybody back out. But if you just think of an individual who's going to jump in the water like that uh and risk his life to to attempt to save a a young
man uh is pretty amazing as well. So, we have a certificate that I'd like to uh read. And m uh Mr. Moy, are you here? If you could come up, let me just read this. Um the city of Long Branch Certificate of Recognition. This certificate is presented to Solomon
Moy for receiving the Civilian Service Award in recognition of your brave and selfless efforts on September 18th, 2025 to save swimmers in distress. You acted without hesitation at your own personal risk, prioritizing their well-being
above your own. The mayor and council of the city of Long Branch extend our thanks to you for your courage, community spirit, and caring response in a dire situation. You're an inspiration to our community presented this 22nd day of October 2025.
John Palone and Council President um Anita Vote as well as the city council are here today. So, thank you You got a photo or something? >> Take You want to go up there and take a photo?
>> Is the union photographer here? >> Got to get up there. Put them all set. >> How you doing, Chief? >> Good, Chief. Good. Thank you. Excellent job. >> Thank you.
>> Thank you, Mr. >> If the family wants pictures. [Applause] a different mother. >> Great kids. Great bunch of guys. >> Yeah, now they're awesome. >> Hang out with them. >> No, anytime I run into so down at
so appreciative. >> Mhm. It wasn't >> doesn't matter if they or not. They're all >> Anybody outside? Thank you so much. What an what an inspiration for for all of us.
So to continue, >> you want to pause and you >> want to pause and let people they were going to leave. >> Thank you all for coming this evening. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Okay, we will now continue with the meeting with the reading and approval of
previous minutes. I need a motion to approve the minutes from the October 8th, 2025 meeting. >> So moved. >> Second. Roll call, please. >> Mr. Rases, >> yes. >> Mr. Vieiraa, >> yes. >> Mrs. Whittis is absent. Doc, Mr. Dangler
is absent. Dr. Vote, >> yes. >> Motion passed. >> Thank you. Consideration of ordinance, public hearing, and final consideration. There are none. Ordinance for introduction. Ordinance 0-13-25.
This is the first reading of ordinance 13-25, an ordinance of the city of Long Branch, County of Mammoth, approving and adopting the 2025 update to the Oceanfront Broadway Redevelopment Plan
and amending and supplementing chapter 269 redevelopment and chapter 345 zoning of the city of Long Branch Code. This or this is a summary of the ordinance. This
ordinance is adopting the 2025 update updated version of the oceanfront broadway redevelopment plan which revises the prior redevelopment plans and the design handbooks for the local
development sectors. Chapter 269 redevelopment and chapter 345 zoning are amended to codify the changes set forth in the redevelopment plan. The redevelopment plan indicates
that the handbooks regarding the development of of Broadway Gateway Handbook three and lower Broadway handbook 7 are fully superseded by the new plan. and where the updated
redevelopment plan conflicts with the general design guidelines handbook one and the oceanfront Broadway uh addendum handbook 8 the provisions of the new redevelopment plan prevail. I need a
motion to introduce on first reading advertise and post according to law and set the public hearing for November 25th 2025. >> So moved. >> Second. Roll call, please. >> Mr. Rases, >> yes. >> Mr. Vieiraa, >> yes.
>> Mrs. Whittis is absent. Mr. Dangler is absent. Dr. Vote, >> yes. >> Motion passed. >> Thank you. Ordinance 0-14-25. This is the first reading of ordinance 14-25, an ordinance of the city of Long Branch
amend amending chapter 316 towing section 316-5 fees 316-7 license fees term renewal annual inspection fee. A summary of this
ordinance is that this ordinance amends the towing ordinance by updating the fee schedule and license fees for tow operators in the city of Long Ranch. I need a motion to introduce on first reading, advertise, and post according
to law and set the public hearing for November 12th, 2025. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Roll call, please. >> Mr. Rases, >> yes. >> Mr. Vieiraa, >> yes. >> Mrs. Whittis is absent. Mr. Dangler is absent. Dr. Voke, >> yes.
>> Motion passed. >> Thank you. Public participation for resolutions and all general comments. I need a motion to open the public portion part of the meeting for all comments. >> So moved. >> Second. >> All in favor?
>> I I. The public portion of the meeting is to allow you the public to state your comments directly to the administration and have a voice in the proceedings of your governing body. There will be no cross dialogue during the public portion
part of the meeting. After you have spoken, any member of the deis authorized to speak on the part of the administration may address your comments, answer your questions, and correct any misleading or erroneous
information. If there's anyone in the audience who has a comment to make, please step forward to the podium. State your name and address clearly for the record. You will have five minutes and may only speak once. requesting one minute notification.
Vincent Leapour 33 Ocean Terrace Long Branch. Since there's no cross dialogue in the public portion, I'm going to ask a series of question at the conclusion. I would like council to answer those questions. Uh first questions concern houses of
worship. Is this city offering to purchase at market rate the house of worship on Atlantic Avenue that is for sale? And for what purpose is the city purchasing this house of worship for?
The second question concerning a house of worship. The word is throughout Pier Village is that a house of worship is going to be built on the west side of Ocean Boulevard on recently purchased properties between Ocean Boulevard and
Second Avenue on Chelsea Avenue. I put an Oprah in for development proposals of any sort for those properties and all I received was minor changes on the property. The question is, is this city government
courting a house of worship on Chelsea Avenue across from Pier Village? Yes or no? About the fire truck parked out front city hall, the Mammoth Beach fire truck. The ladder truck. Since this city's ladder truck is no
longer operable and the city is now using the Mammoth Beach ladder fire truck, where is the measure or resolution of agreement describing the terms of the use of the Mammoth Beach ladder fire truck and the reciprocating
requirements or terms of Mammoth Beach? Councilman Rases, on June 17th, you filed a single candidate committee certificate of organization with the state elect listing John Palone as chairman.
Councilman Rasis on your report of contributions and expenditures filed October 3rd, 2025. you accepted into your campaign and listed a total of approximately $2,500 contribution cumitively from the city
attorney's law firm Rome Cochland and Manello. Each of the names just mentioned contributing $833.33. Councilman Rassis, on the October 8th bill payout, resolution 192, you voted
yes for the approval of a payment of $28,847.95 for legal services to the city's law firm, Rome Cochland Manella. Councilman Rases, in light of the recent record at council meetings of the city's
attorney's incidences of mistakes, malpractice, pay-to-play questions, etc. Do you have any concerns as far as your integrity and ethics in taking contributions from the ly from the city law firm Cochland
Reo for your campaign, especially while you're voting yes for payments at council meetings to the city law firm? Yes or no?
How much time is left, madame clerk? a minute and 30 uh 30 seconds. >> Few meetings ago, I stated city policy had an impact on the board of education with the increase.
City attorney Ray known responded, "Any tax abatement doesn't reduce by one nickel the amount of money that the board of ed has for education." End quote. That's after I referred to the 30-year peer village tax abatement and other tax
abatements in this city back to 2005 in a recent candidates forum on September 16th. >> One minute notification. >> Thank you, Madame Clerk. A candidate stated the following quote,
I think as far as the big picture is concerned, we keep talking about taxes. I know the city tax has grown 4.6 6 billion in the last year with the city income going up 299 million. Meanwhile, the school is underfunded.
Quote, he continues, I don't know what the big misnomer is. I think the tax situation is more on the city than those on the school board or the school administration. End quote. That individual candidate got it half right.
The board of education failed on fighting the tax abatements. But the half part of it they got correct was that the city policy has aggravated the increases in the board of education taxes on the people of this city because of the tax abatements.
Council, I'll await the answers to my questions now. >> Five minutes. >> Thank you, Mr. Dilpor. >> Well, where are the answers? >> You can be seated. >> I'd like the answers. Oh, there's other We're still in the public portion. So, you want to
>> Yeah. Good. >> Um, so, uh, does anyone >> No, we're still in the public portion. So, it's if there's is there anybody else that wants to speak? >> Okay. >> Leo can sit down and wait and get his answers when we're done with the public portion. >> Okay.
Um, anyone else? >> That's what I meant. You can wait till the end. >> Yeah. Okay. Hi. Uh, my name is Anna Silva Mendes. Um, I'm from 45 Jackson Street, Long Branch, New Jersey. Um, so I was just
interested in knowing a little bit about whether I don't know if you guys can disclose this information, but just about budgeting and maybe like the timelines about the construction along Broadway. >> Okay. Yeah, if you want to stay after, I'll go over everything with you. >> Okay. Thank you.
>> Absolutely. Is there anyone else? >> Are we concerned? >> Scott Beaver, 434 Long Branch Avenue. Uh just a couple things. Um >> public safety issue. I know Mr. Surely
we talked about the uh street lights back in February, I believe, and I believe that JCPNL is not making any progress. And there are some serious intersection issues, curve issues where they're not
lit, not lighted, and are truly becoming an issue for public safety from this point forward. If anyone, especially at intersections that aren't lit, gets hurt because of this, I ask and I
would promote the individual being injured to go after the city of Lawn Branch and JCPNL for not fulfilling their obligation to having these lights lit.
Uh, another thing, um, and I've been thinking this a long long time. I had a conversation up here, I don't know, six months ago, maybe less, and we were discussing why certain things aren't getting done,
specifically with crimes or whatever. Mr. Mayor, you said to me afterwards, "It's out of your hands." >> I really thought about that. And I think what you meant by out of your hands is because of our governor.
With that, I have a problem because I know how much you support him. And I have a big problem with the 27 years that I gave to this city that
crime is being overlooked or the no bail, the no cash bail, all that. It's a bunch of BS. It really is. You can try and cater to whoever you want. It's BS. And Miss Voy, I remember another issue where you were talking about counselors
going out on calls. Sounds great on paper, looks great on TV. It's not going to work. Trust me. The people are going to go out, think they're going to help, and they're going to get in the way or they're going to
get their ass beat by being in the way. You haven't seen it. I myself, Mr. Shirley, we have. And quite honestly, I I don't know
what's going to happen, but the fact that you can't do anything is very troublesome. Very troublesome. And I I I just hope that this all gets taken care of sooner than later.
That's it. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Hi, I'm Dr. Katherine Morris, 787 Ocean Avenue. And um I'd like to echo what the gentleman said that lighting, street
lighting is an issue, a safety issue. I'm with some of my friends here who have repeatedly contacted JCPL. So have I um and reached out to city government about lights that are out. Um and it
seems to doesn't seem to go anywhere. So, we'd really like some insight and understanding as to what we can reasonably expect. Um, where's the log jam if there is something? Um, and maybe it'll shed some light on it for us.
Thank you. >> Thank you. >> If you stay after, we'll talk. >> Anyone else? >> Okay. Okay. Do you want to do the answers and I'll close him? >> No, I didn't. That's what I'm saying. I'll close it first. Yeah. Okay.
>> Um after the uh public com uh anyone from the public who wants to further discuss any other comments or concerns, uh please call the city clerk's office at 732-571-5686 to schedule a time at the public council hours that are held the first Wednesday
of every month. And now I'd like to see if anyone on the days wants to respond to any of the questions. >> If I can, council president, a couple of things. First, the city doesn't comment on contract negotiations when we're negotiating to purchase property. So, I I wouldn't comment on that to to begin
with. Um uh secondly, um as to an application on Chelsea Avenue, the city is certainly isn't quote unquote encouraging any application. as a Mammoth Beach firet truck. Uh there's, I believe, an exchange of correspondence with Mammoth Beach, but the use of the firetruck arises out of a, you know,
fairly well established mutual aid obligations between the various towns that help each other out in circumstances like this where there's a truck down and so but there is an exchange of correspondence. There's not a formal agreement. Um, as to my law firm's uh contribution, I'll just
correct Mr. Um, Leapore in this way. Um, Speaker Coughlin's name is Coughlin, not Coglin. So, you keep mispronouncing it. I just want to make sure you understand that. And secondly, just like you have a First Amendment right to come up here and say anything that you want to say.
Most of it is uh lies and untrue. I have a First Amendment right to make campaign contributions to support candidates that I like. So, I do that all the time. By the way, I support Democratic candidates all across the state and I'm very proud of it. Um, and um, finally with the I'm not sure where
your numbers came from, but I'm not sure I've never heard numbers of the city's income's gone up $4 billion and the budget's gone up 279 million. I think the city's budget is something like 70 >> $80 million. I don't know what 4 billion
came from. I doesn't make any sense to me. Then again, nothing you say about tax abatements make any sense to me, but I'm going to say it again. The school board strikes their budget. The city strikes the tax rate, which we're required to do by law. We don't control the the school budget. Tax abatements
don't affect one nickel money that the school board gets. They raise their budget. They send the city a bill and it gets paid quarterly. So that uh I think that answers all of the questions. >> Okay. >> Thank you. education. >> Thank you.
>> And anyone >> I still haven't heard Mr. Ras's answer. The question was directed to Mr. Ras. >> So I'm going to answer that question too. There's no conflict of interest and you and you know there's no conflict of interest. Well, you don't get to answer individual questions. You ask questions. We answered your questions.
>> Well, I gave facts. You're a liar. >> Your facts was that there were the city's income went up four billion. That's a fact. >> Board of Education, >> Mr. Lora. You listen. This is why you make so many mistakes. >> You Mr. Please be quiet now.
>> Any more com um >> I do. So I mean I don't Miss Mendes, I don't want to skip you, but it's a longer conversation, so stay. But I would like to talk about JCPNL. Um is Scott still here? So So just so you you know, when we get a report, everything is documented on the computers. JCPNL
does not report to any governing body. they report to the um the BPU and believe me, complaints have gone up and down the chain. I can tell you up and down Ocean Avenue, up and down Cedar Avenue. We've had issues uh in front of churches, synagogues, uh runners in the
morning. Uh but you know, Scott knows better than anyone, my traffic unit will go out and actually do a inventory of every light that's out. At one we were at 350 lights out and we we pay whether they're on or off. It doesn't matter. Um, so believe me, it's something we're fighting as much as you. Um, at one
point, Congressman Palon even got involved and went to First Energy in Ohio and got someone to come down here and talk to us and we got some of them fixed. But um, basically they gave us answers like uh, during COVID the the plant that made the lights that we need uh, shut down and they can't source them
anymore. all the way to that um BPU just approved a huge project and they're converting them to um LED lights and it's a whole different process. So, we are constantly reporting them. Everything we do is in writing. It's done on the computer. We get reports back and they just the timeline just
keep going out and out. We were told by someone from JCPNL that the lead time to complete our list is three years. That's the that's what we were given and we didn't accept it. We keep fighting it. We keep reporting them. Um, we have the police officers doing the same job three times just so it's documented that many
times. So, we are doing everything we can >> and and JCPNL was acquired by First Energy, which which is out in Ohio. So, I mean, some of the connections that we used to have locally with JCPNL, you can imagine that First Energy, which is a
nationwide company in in Ohio, is going to be less concerned with the smaller communities in New Jersey. you mentioned my brother again they you know he's on the energy committee so uh they generally respond to him and as as uh
Mr. Char Mr. Shirley said, occasionally they will send somebody down from the corporate office. Uh, but it's just been it's it's just a constant struggle with them. >> And Scott, I just wanted to add I, you know, respect your your opinion on I
think it's the arrive together. Uh, I think is the the name of the program that you were referring to with a social worker and the police working working together. you know, you're you you you know things firsthand, so I I respect learning from from your experience. So,
thank you. >> Ride with a cop. >> Oh, pardon me. >> Go for a ride. Ride along with >> Yeah. Yeah. Um, okay. I need a Now I will ask madame
clerk if there are any changes to the list of resolutions. >> No changes have been made. I just need a motion to close the public. >> That was done already. >> Okay. >> Yes. >> Um, so we can take the listed resolutions as consent agenda. I need a
motion. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Roll call, please. >> Mr. Rases, >> yes. >> Mr. Vieira, >> yes. >> Mrs. Whittis is absent. Mr. Dangler's absent. Dr. Vote. >> Yes. >> Motion passed. >> Thank you. Um, applications. There are none. And so we'll move to miscellaneous
business for the good of the order. and we will ask Councilman Rasus to start us off. >> Thank you, Council President. Uh first, I'd like to thank Francesca for a beautiful presentation commemorating Italian Heritage Month. Uh also would
like to um express many thanks to uh Mr. Moy and the firefighters for risking their lives um to help the swimmers uh that that treacherous day on September 18th. Um in two weeks is election day. Just want to mention to everybody it's
your civic duty. Get out and vote. Every vote counts and on that note um just want to wish everyone a nice evening and stay safe. >> Thank you Councilman Rases. Councilman Vieiraa. >> Good evening. Thanks for coming out. Um I'll echo a little bit with Francesca
did a great job presentation the Italian-American heritage and um for our firemen that risk their lives every night. Beautiful job. and thanks for all they do because they do a lot for us. And uh for Salom Moy, a
civilian, inspiration is right for him. What a great job. It was an inspiration inspired the city and I want to thank you for coming out for your concerns. I know we're on top of him. Our business administrator is on it with the JCPNL lights and we're on it. We're trying to
do our best that we can. With that, I want to say good night and thank you for coming. Thank you, Councilman Vieiraa and Mayor Palone. >> Thank you, Council President. I wanted to mentioned that tonight the city council adopted a resolution that
opposes RWJ Barnabas's plan to relocate its hospital from Mammoth Medical Center in Long Branch to a new facility in Titan Falls. So, let's be clear about what that means. If this move is approved by the New
Jersey Department of Health, the license will be transferred to Titan Falls and Mammoth Medical Center in Long Branch will no longer be a hospital. Yes, it might retain some satellite services, but it will be a mere shell of the
institution that has served our community for more than 135 years. Key services that would be removed include the labor and delivery, pediatrics, life-saving cardiac care,
major surgery, intensive and critical care, and rapid access to stroke treatment. Last week, Hackinac Meridian Health issued a statement, and I quote, "RPlacing a fullervice acute care
hospital with a satellite clinic is a drastic reduction of care." Unquote. The Hackinac Meridian statement continues, quote, "This move effectively abandons Long Branch's most vulnerable residents, a community with limited
access to transportation that relies on its local hospital. So, need our hospital to stay in Long Branch. Please make your voice heard at the public hearing which is next Wednesday, October 29th from 4 to 6 PM
at the Ocean Place Resort and Hilton. Oh, I'm sorry, Ocean Place Resort and Hotel. That's at one Ocean Boulevard in Long Branch. Free parking will be available at the hotel or at our municipal parking lot across the street on the corner of Broadway and Ocean
Boulevard. So, thank you for that. And I just want to mention a couple of upcoming events that we have here in the city. Uh tomorrow, Thursday, October 23rd, is an evening of celebrating Italian heritage at the uh Long Branch Arts Center and Cultural Center. This
event starts at 6 and includes live music, Italian food, and a talk on Italian heritage. Join us for this free event. This Saturday, October 25th, is Halloween at Jackson Woods, uh, and also at the Long Branch Fire Museum. This
event is from 2 to 4 p.m. and will include costumes, refreshments, activities, and fun for all ages. We typically get on a nice day about a thousand people who show up um at Jackson Woods. Um, and the entire park
is decorated, so it's a really nice uh family uh friendly uh environment. And next week on October 29th, I'm sorry, October 28th, uh, Tales from Long Branch's Haunted M man uh, mansion. For
those of you who remember the Haunted Mansion that used to be on the pier, join us for a Hollywood reun Hollywood Halloween reunion um, at the Old Haunted Mansion of the Old Haunted Mansion on October 28th at 6
PM at the Long Branch Senior Center. This is a free event and open to the public. Um it's going to be very uh a very a very cool evening. Um and finally uh again I want to thank our our firefighters and uh Mr. Moy for uh
literally putting your their lives on the line today, but I also want to thank them for um last night firefighters from the FMA uh cooked a delicious meal for our seniors uh at the senior center. So, I want to say thank you for your time
and your generosity and for bringing our community together. Thank you all for being here this evening and for your comments. >> Thank you, Mayor Flu. Uh, and I just will make some final comments and really second everything that people have said.
We are so grateful for our fire firefighters and the bravery that they show and and for Mr. oil, his his bravery and and and sacrifice to uh risk his life to go in and save save someone
who he probably didn't even know um is uh really an inspiration for all of us. Um I want to thank Francesca for that beautiful message from the Italian heritage. I'm partially Italian and uh
everything that she said in terms of family and the meals and the togetherness uh celebrating the holidays and the long Sunday dinners that go for three hours. Uh that was part of my upbringing and it was so uh refreshing
and uh to to hear her her talk about uh heritage that we share. Um, with that, uh, with Halloween coming and with a lot of good events coming our way and some very important things for us to think
about, as the mayor said, um, the public hearing that's happening is uh, regarding the hospital, uh, to uh, it's an important event. So, if you could consider going to that. Uh, and with that, we hope to see you again in two
weeks. Stay safe and enjoy. Thank you. I'm going to now close the meeting um with I need a motion to adjurnn. >> Motion to adjurnn. Second. >> Uh all in favor? >> I >> opposed. >> Thank you.
>> Just so many